New Year’s Resolutions?

If you’re anything like me you are constantly planning throughout the year. This planning can include setting goals to live a healthier lifestyle, moving to a new state, going back to school, trying a new hobby, or resigning from a position you’re not happy with. I want to share a few of my own personal resolutions with you in hopes that you will be encouraged to set some of your own goals for 2018.

I won’t stop there though. I also want to make sure I do my part in spreading the word. Attention is priceless. I know by retweeting your posts, rating your business on Facebook, liking your shop on Etsy, or commenting on your YouTube video can help so much. Spreading the word to get the eyes and attention of consumers can lead to success. Even if someone doesn’t read your posts that day, or buy from your Etsy shop within a week at least now they will know where to go to get what they need.

Aside from business I will continue to empower women of color via LadyLaura.co. By writing more posts about our issues and the things we care about. To let women know how important and valuable they are in this world. To remind them not to “measure their strengths by the amount of pain they can endure”. Resilience is overrated. There is true strength that lives in us that goes beyond our daily struggles.

Resolution #2: Begin intermittent fasting
I heard of this new pattern of eating that is said to help you live a longer life and make eating simpler. With my busy schedule and strong desire to lose weight, in the new year I want to try fasting. It is important to note that this is not a diet. It is changing when you eat, not what you eat. You can reduce your body fat and speed up your metabolism by fasting. The rules are simple: you have your first meal at 1PM and your last meal at 8PM. You will be fasting for about 16 hours (from 8PM – 1PM). Since your body is in a fasted state it allows you to burn fat while your insulin levels are low.

I am going to try this pattern for about 6 months. I will stop around May/June since I am having cosmetic surgery during that time. I will provide more details regarding my surgery in a later post.

Resolution #3: Be more planful, present, and intentional
Although I successfully relaunched LadyLaura.Co in 2017, I have been a little “spacey” this year. I can’t tell if its because I have so many ideas swarming in my head throughout the day along with the demands of my day job and personal life, or because of the food I eat or my lack of exercise, etc., etc., etc.

I feel like I’m not present during the day. So in 2018, I want to plan more. I want to be present in my own life. I want to be more intentional with my actions. I’ll start off by creating a strategic plan for LadyLaura.co which has been the center of all my ambitions lately. I also vow to be patient with my own success and to take everything one day at a time. Click To Tweet I also want to start eating better foods and exercising more often, specifically through yoga. This will allow me to have some reflection time.

Surprisingly, out of all the resolutions I have for this year this will probably be the hardest to stick with, but I am committed.

Resolution #4: Remind myself to live my best life every dayThis last resolution is for all of us. Every single day. Do the best work in ANY setting. Do the things that make you happy. Own your anxieties and overcome your fears through self awareness. Don’t half ass ANYTHING this year. Every time your body tells you “no”, listen to your mind saying, “yes”. Be grateful for those times you feel lucky or blessed. Be encouraged in the moments you are criticized. Don’t be too good to show your struggles in front of people. Promote your own growth from it. I want you to encourage yourself to live your best life….every single day this year.

I know the internet tells us that resolutions are overrated and if you want to change you can change now. I agree and disagree. Although I don’t think you should just wait until the ball drops to make life decisions I think it is important to create a plan first then execute. “Poor planning promotes piss poor performance”. Whether you want to plan then execute your goals at the beginning of the new year or the moment you set them doesn’t matter. The important part is that you have planned what you want to do for the year and you have taken the extra step to be thoughtful about your own happiness. I’ll let you in on a little secret….you will win either way.

Don’t you find it comforting to indulge in the idea of a clean slate? So tell me, what are some of your goals and resolutions this year?